Each of this week’s 3 films have male directors this week and whilst 2 are male-led, there is one female-led narrative.

Act of Valor stars real US Navy Seals who are all men and the trailer highlights the male dominance of the film with just one shot of a woman whose face is covered with her hands as she cries whilst her partner leaves and a second glimpse of a pregnant woman on the phone. Clearly the place of women is at home while the men go off and take part in the stories the audience are interested in.

Wild Bill follows the story of a man released from prison and forced to look after his two sons after their mother abandoned them. There is one woman in the top four listed cast and the six names on the poster are all men even though there is one woman featured in the poster image.

The Hunger Games is one of the few films in a mainstream genre which Hollywood has released recently with a female protagonist. The story follows Jennifer Lawrence’s character as she navigates a largely male-dominated world – there is only one other female listed in the top seven cast.


Act of Valor (USA)
Director: Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh
Cast: Alex Veadov, Roselyn Sanchez and Nestor Serrano
Production: Bandito Brothers
Distribution: Momentum Pictures

The Hunger Games (USA)
Director: Gary Ross
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci
Production: Color Force, Larger Than Life Productions, Lionsgate and Ludas Productions
Distribution: Lionsgate

Wild Bill (UK)
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Charlie Creed-Miles, Will Poulier, Liz White and Andy Serkis
Production: 20ten Media
Distribution: The Works

Act of Valor trailer (23 Mar UK)

The Hunger Games trailer (23 Mar UK)

Wild Bill trailer (23 Mar UK)

Act of Valor poster                                             The Hunger Games poster
                                         Wild Bill poster

(23 Mar UK)

The only mainstream release in Canada this week is The Hunger Games. It has a female-led narrative, is directed by a man and stars five men and two women in the top seven listed cast.


The Hunger Games (USA)
Director: Gary Ross
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci
Production: Color Force, Larger Than Life Productions, Lionsgate and Ludas Productions
Distribution: Alliance Films

The Hunger Games trailer (23 Mar Canada)

The Hunger Games poster (23 Mar Canada)